QUEZON CITY – Inang Naulila sa Anak (INA) Healing Center, a non-residential care facility of DSWD-NCR that provides psychosocial support to bereaved mothers, conducted a mental health support activity for its staff who are currently experiencing physical, mental, and emotional stress brough about by the current coronavirus disease (COVID-10) pandemic.
Frontliners all over the country are battling the common enemy – the COVID 19. Since the Enhanced Community Quarantine took effect in the entire Luzon on March 17, 2020, employees of DSWD-NCR who have to physically report to work has encountered many challenges and sacrifices to do so, such as having to stay away from their own family, walking distant kilometers due to lack of transportation, and even risking their own health in order to serve the people.
Amid the continuous service for the public, the fear, anxiety, and frustration brought about by the pandemic has also taken a toll on the emotional and mental health of DSWD-NCR’s frontliners. It is in this light that INA Healing Center initiated a mental health support activity to provide its staff a morale boost, alleviate their concerns, and provide exercises and information on how to cope with stress and maintain positivity.
Leaflets containing tips from the World Health Organization on how to maintain mental stability during the pandemic were also distributed to the staff. “Tama po itong nakalagay dito (leaflet) na dapat limitado lang ang panonood ng balita kasi nakakanerbiyos din kapag palagi, dapat pala may oras lang. Lahat na lang Facebook at TV, puro balita kaya matatakot ka talaga” Mr. Joel Gawan, Security Personnel of INA Healing Center,
expressed after reading the leaflet.
Several measures were also implemented to help and protect the employees of DSWD-NCR such as provision of alternative work arrangements, distribution of hygiene kits, sleeping kits for those who stay overnight at the office, and shuttle services, among others.
INA Healing Center along with the other Centers and Residential Care Facilities of DSWD-NCR remain operational amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ###
From the reports of: Ms. Diane M. Gianan, Psychologist I, INA Healing Center